How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
He had suddenly had a strange feeling stronger than any he had ever known: he had been aware that someone was trying to tell him something, something that had missed him because he could not understand the words. Not words exactly; it had been like a kind of silent shout. But he had not been able to pick up the message, because he had not known how. (1.77)
Before he knows about his skills, Will senses that someone is trying to communicate with him somehow. He doesn't understand it, but he knows there's a message out there for him. It's one of the first signs we get that Will isn't your average eleven-year-old boy.
Quote #2
"The things that would happen to me if I did, they're too terrible, they can't be put into words. The Old Ones can be cruel, cruel… I think you're the right one, boy, I've been looking for you a long time, a long time, to give the Sign to you. But how can I be really sure? How can I be sure you aren't a trick of the Dark?" (4.56)
Who's afraid of the Dark? The Walker, that's who. Here the guy tells Will that words can't even explain the trouble he'll be in if he messes up again—that's why he's so terrified to hand over the Sign to Will.
Quote #3
"I told you that he would find you, and you did not remember. Remember now. In this our magic, every smallest word has a weight and a meaning. Every word that I say to you—or that any other Old One may say." (4.95)
Nowadays we toss out words at a mile-a-minute pace, with Twitter and Facebook always competing for our attention, but for the Old Ones, words are very measured and always carefully considered. They spend time thinking about the meaning behind every specific word before even uttering it. Wonder what we happen if we did that, too?
Quote #4
"There are no words to describe how precious it is. The book of hidden things, of the real magic. Long ago, when magic was the only written knowledge, our business was called simply Knowing. But there is far too much to know in your day, on all subjects under the sun. So we use a half-forgotten word, as we Old Ones ourselves are half-forgotten. We call it 'gramarye.'" (6.69)
Check out how Merriman describes the language of the Old Ones: "half-forgotten." What do you think he means by this? Was it once more widely known? We'd also like to point out that he uses the same word to describe the Old Ones themselves. Does this mean the Old Ones' existence is tied to their language?
Quote #5
"This is the oldest book in the world, " he said simply. "And when you have read it, it will be destroyed. This is the Book of Gramarye, written in the Old Speech. It cannot be understood by any except the Old Ones, and even if a man or creature might understand any spell of power that it contains, he could not use their words of power unless he were an Old One himself. (6.71)
We get that the Old Ones have their own language, but we can't help but wonder whether it harms them sometimes. After all, it's in speaking Old Speech that Will is discovered by the enemy. Hmm… seems like it's at least a bit of a liability for them.
Quote #6
"That is not English, Will. And when we speak to one another, you and I, we do not use English. We use the Old Speech. We were born with it in our tongues. You think you are speaking English now, because your common sense tells you it is the only language you understand, but if your family were to hear you they would hear only gibberish. The same with that book." (6.98)
Huh? Merriman explains that they aren't speaking English, even though that's the only language Will has ever known. While it's pretty awesome that the Old Ones just know another tongue and don't have to go through years of classes to master a language, it also gives them a secret code of talking to each other.
Quote #7
"Goodness knows," said Robin. "It was when we first took him up. Sounded like a language unknown to human ear. Maybe he comes from Mars." (8.184)
The Walker speaks in gibberish. At least according to Will's family he does. We know that he's really using the special, secret language of the Old Ones, but humans don't understand it. Robin later tells Will he was using the same mumbo-jumbo but he brushes it off. He doesn't want to blow his cover, after all.
Quote #8
The ears of an Old One know that birds do not speak with the precision of words; instead they communicate emotion. There are many kinds and degrees of emotion, and there are many kinds of expression even in the language of a bird. But although Will could tell that the rook was obviously asking him to come and look at something, he could not tell whether or not the bird was being used by the Dark. (11.167)
Think about it. Birds communicate with one another, they just use other signals and cues instead from English words. Will thinks about this in a new way once he learns that he's an Old One. After all, animals are communicating all around us; we just don't know how to interpret it.
Quote #9
Will said, "Is it over?" "More or less," Merriman said, faceless under the hood. "The Dark—is—" He dared not bring out the words. (12.68)
Here we sense the power in language or in speaking words aloud. Merriman doesn't want to announce that the Dark is defeated just in case it's not true. For the Old Ones, every word is important, and they are quite careful to say the right ones. Words matter, yo.
Quote #10
They walked as old friends walk, without often speaking, sharing the kind of silence that is not so much silence as a kind of still communication. Their footsteps rang out on the bare wet road, making the only sound anywhere in the village except the song of a blackbird and, somewhere further off, the sound of someone shoveling. (13.61)
We all have those friends—you know, the one you don't even need to talk to because you already know what the other is thinking and feeling. In the end, this is how Merriman and Will are with each other. No language needed.